Assig-nok



May ,1923.

L. J. BERKELEY RAIL ANCHOR Filed Sept. 30. 1922 2 Shoots-Sheet 2 Patented May 8, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAURENCE J. BERKELEY, OF YOUNGSTOVIN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE P 80 M COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

RAIL ANCHOR.

Application filed September 30, 1922. Serial No. 591,532.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LAURENCE J. BERKE- LnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Anchors, of which the following is a specification.

lily invention relates to rail anchors of the general character adapted to grip the base flange ot' a rail and abut against a stationary part of the road bed so as to resist the longitudinal creeping tendency of railroad rails and has for its object the proision of a new and improved device of this character which will firmly grip the upper and lower surfaces of the rail base, which may be applied to rails having base flanges of different widths and thicknesses, and which will be tensioned during its application to the rail so as to maintain its grip on the rail by means of spring pressure.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of an improved anchor adapted to engage opposite edges of a rail base and comprising a bendable non-resilient portion adapted to be bent into gripping engagement with the rail base and a resilient portion, the tensioning of which maintains said rail gripping engagement by means of spring pressure.

A further object is to provide an improved two-piece anchor device consisting of a rail gripping member having jaw portions adapted to be bent into gripping engagement with the upper and lower surfaces of the rail base adjacent one edge of said base, and a spring member which engages the other edge of the rail base and is adapted to be tensioned during its application to a rail; said spring and rail gripping members being so formed that the tensioning of the spring member subjects said rail gripping member to a bending strain, whereby a firm pincer grip of said jaw portions is maintained by spring pressure.

The invention has for further objects such other novel arrangements, constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such other objects as will appear in the following description.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of a rail anchor device constructed in accordance with my invention, in a partially applied position on the base flange of a rail, the rail base being shown in section for the purpose ot clcarness.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the anchor device in its fully applied position.

Fig. is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the anchor taken from the left of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of one of the members of my improved rail anchor construction.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow, and

Fig. 7 is an inverted plan view of the anchor device, the parts being illustrated in their fully applied position.

The preferred embodiment of the invention consists of a rail gripping member 10, adapted to engage one edge of a rail base, and a spring member 11 which, when in its applied position, is stressed so as to efiect a tightgripping engagement of the member 10 with the upper and lower surfaces of the rail base 12 and prevents lateral displacement of the member 10 on the rail.

The rail gripping member 10 is preferably madeot malleable casting or other suitable material and consists of a substantially C-shaped hook, the upper end of which bears against the upper inclined surface of the rail base and the lower end projects under the rail base, preferably, to a point intermediate the upper end of the hook and the longitudinal center oi. the rail base. The upper end of the casting is formed with upper and lower jaws 13 and 14, respectively. which jaws, preferably, bear 'l'latwise against the respective surfaces of the rail base. The jaws 13 and 14: are connectcd together by means of a relatively thin bendable web 15 and normally spread apart a greater distance than the thickness of the rail base to which they are intended to be applied. The jaws being spread apart in this manner permit convenient application of the anchor to rails having base flanges of different thickness without danger of producing undesirable distortion of the body or jaw portions of the member 10. The lower end of the member 10 is preferably formed with a curved seat 16 to support the spring 11, which spring, as will be hereinafter described, is tensioned between the rail base and said seat so as to flex the web 15 and force the jaws 11- and 14: into ti u ht gripping engagement with the upper and lower surfaces of the rail base. The member 10 is also preferably provided with a forwardly projecting angular portion 17 which abuts against a stationary part of the road-bed. for example, one of the vertical faces of a cross tie 18. The body and jaw portions of the member 10 are preferablyreinforced by suitable rigidifyinpg ribs 19 and 20, so as to confine the flexinc,- of the member 10 to the relatively thin web 15 at points intermediate the jaws 13 and 14.

The spring member consists, pr" .rably, of a round bar having one of its ends bent as shown at 21, to stand at an obtuse angle with relation to the body of the spring and is formed at the other end with a preferably, though not necessa "ily. sharp bend 22. The bent portion 21 bears against the lower end of the web 15 and the bent por ion 22 pro jects upwardly against the vertical edge 23 01'? the rail base, when the anchor is in its applied position.

When applying the anchor device to a rail, the jaws 1-3 and 1 1 of the rail gripping member .10 are positioned over one edge of a rail base 12 1116 the spring; member 11 arranged on the seat 16 transversely of the rail base with the angularly disposed portions 21 and 22 turned downwardly or parallel with the length of the rail, as shown in Fig. 1. A suitable wrench (not shown) may be applied to the angularly disposed end 22 and the spr' rotated until said an gular portions 21 and 22 extend at substantially right angles to the length of the rail, as shown in Fig. 2. By reason of the angular portion 21 o the spring member 11, the spring is distorted from its original form, shown in dotted i in Fig. 2, to the position shown in fu lines. by 16 above mentioned rotation. and assumes a cramped position between the lower surface of the rail base. the seat 16 of the member lU and the lower end of the flexible web 15. The seat portion 16 of member 10 provides fulcrum for the :"")1i1ij;' bar. whereby the spring;- exerts a do.n vard force on the jaw 13 and an upward force on the jaw 14. The angular portion 21 of the spring-. functions as a cam element to bond the web 15 inwardly toward the rail. The spring bar is l ll preferably rotated to a'position whereby the angular portion 21 will be slightly beyond the vertical center of the spring seat 16, whereby the resiliency of the bar will maintain the bar in proper position and prevent reverse accidental movement of the spring. The web 15 is preferably formed with a downwardly projecting lug 24. which provides a suitable abutment for limiting the rotation of the spring member 11.

it will be seen that the bent portion 21, functioning as a cam, while the angular por tion 22 engages one vertical edge of the rail base, in addition to forcing the web 15 ot the casting against the opposite vertical edge of the rail base, effects a firm gripping action of the anchor device transversely of the rail. The vertical pressure of the spring as above alluded to, produces in effect a pincer grip of the jaws 13 and 1 1 on the upper and lower surfaces of the rail base.

-While l have described my invention in a specific embodiment, it will be obvious that structural changes might be made without departure from the spirit of my invention. It will, therefore, be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown and described except in so far as specific limitations may appear in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rail anchor comprising a rail base gripping member, and a spring member extending under the base of the rail between said rail and said gripping member and adapted to be stressed in its applied position to exert upward pressure against said gripping member.

2. A rail anchor comprising a rail base gripping member and a spring member extending undersaid rail base and interposed between said gripping member and the rail and adapted to be stressed in its applied position to exert upward and downward pressure against said gripping member.

3. A rail. anchor comprising a rail gripping; member having jaws adapted to grip the upper and lower surfaces of a railbase, and a spring member engaging said gripping member and adapted to be stressed to exert pressure against one of said jaws.

415A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member having means for engaging one surface of a rail base and a bendable jaw member adapted to be bent into gripping: engagement with another surface cl said base, and a spring member having a cramped engagement with said gripping member and adapted to be stressed in its applied position to exert pressure against said bendable jaw member. M

5. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member having a relatively rigid up per jaw for engaging the upper surface of a rail base and a lower jaw member adapted to be bent into gripping engagement with the lower surface of said base, and a spring member having a cramped engagement with said gripping member and adapted to exert pressure against said lower jaw member.

6. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member having a relatively rigid upper jaw for engaging the upper surface of the rail base and a lower jaw member adapted to be bent into gripping engagement with the lower surface of said base, and a spring member adapted to be stressed during its application to its applied position to exert pressure against said lower jaw to bend it into grip-ping engagement with the rail base.

7. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member having a relatively rigid upper jaw for engaging the upper surface of the rail base, a lower jaw member adapted to be bent into gripping engagen'ient with the lower surface of said base and an arm extending under the rail base, and a spring member having a cramped position between said lower jaw member and said arm and adapted to be stressed to exert pressure against said lower jaw.

8. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member and a spring member which together embrace the base of a rail, saidgripping member being formed with a jaw adapted to be bent into engagement with the rail base, and said spring being adapted to be tensioned to exert pressure against said jaw to maintain it in gripping engagement with said rail.

9. A rail anchor comprising a rail base gripping member and a spring member which together embrace the base of a rail, said gripping member being formed with a jaw adapted to be bent into engagement with the rail base, and said spring being adapted to be interposed between the rail and said gripping member and to be tensioned to exert pressure against said jaw to maintain it in gripping engagement with the rail.

10. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member and a spring member which together embrace the base of a rail, said gripping member being formed with a jaw adapted to be bent into engagement with the rail base, and said spring being adapted to be tensioned to exert pressure against said jaw to bend it into gripping engagement with said rail base.

11. A rail anchor comprising a nil gripping member formed with a bendable jaw portion adapted to bear against the rail base adjacent one edge thereof, and a spring member positioned between said rail base and said gripping member adapted to be distorted in its applied position to exert spring pressure at one of its ends against one edge of the rail base and at its other end against said bendable jaw portion.

19. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member formed with a relat "ely rigid jaw to engage the upper surface of a rail base. and a bendable jaw member to engage the lower surface of said base, and a spring member positioned between said rail base and. said gripping member to be adapted to be distorted in its applied position to exert spring pressure at one of its ends against one edge of the rail base and atits other end against said bendable jaw portion.

13. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member formed with a relatively rigid jaw to engage the upper surface of a rail base, a bendable jaw member to engage the lower surface of said base, and an arm projecting under said base, and a spring member positioned between said rail base and said arm adapted to be distorted in its applied position to exert spring pressure at one of its ends against one edge of the rail base and to exertpressure adjacent its other end against said arm and said bendable jaw member.

14. A rail anchor comprising a rail gr' pin member and a spring member whichtogether embrace the base of a rail; said gripping member being formed with a jaw adapted to be bent into gripping engagement with the under surface of the rail and provided with an arm which projects under said base; and said spring being interposed between said rail base and said arm and adapted when in its applied position, to be distorted, to bear with spring pressure against said jaw and said arm to hold said jaw in gripping engagement with said rail base and to lock said gripping member against lateral movement on the rail.

15. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member and a spring member which together embrace the base of a rail; said gripping member being formed with a jaw adapted to be bent into engagement with the under surface of the rail and provided with an arm which projects under said base, and said spring being formed with an angularly disposed end and interposed between said rail base and said arm and adapted, when in its applied position, to be distorted vertically and longitudinally to bear with spring pressure against said jaw and said arm to hold said jaw in gripping engagement with said rail base and to lock said gripping member against lateral movement on the rail.

16. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member having a bendable jaw portion adapted to be bent into engagement with the under-surface of the rail, and a spring member interposed between said rail base and said gripping member; said spring member being formed with angularly disposed end portions which, in their initial position, extend substantially longitndinal- 1y of the rail and which are adapted to be moved by a rotational movement of the spring, to a vertical position, whereby one of said angular portion engagesone edge oi the rail, and the other of said angular portions bears with spring pressure against said bendable jaw portion;

1'7. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping member formed with a bendable jaw adapted to be bent into engagement with a rail base and an angular spring ineznber adapted to be cramped, by a rotational movement of said spring member, between said gripping member and said rail base to exert spring pressure against said javv,

said gripping member being formed with means to innit the rotational movement oi said spring.

18. A rail anchor comprising a rail gripping nien'iber formed with 3aw portions normally spa'ed apart a greater distance than the thio, of the rail base to which they are to be applied and connected together with a bendable Web, and a spring n'z-eiinber normally fnlcz'uine iil on said gripping;- member and tensioi ed during its applicati to its applied position to fOl'CG said jaws into gripping engagement with the rail base by bending; the connections between said jaw.

LAT BENCH) J. BERKELEY. 

